Daniele De Rossi admits Roma never expected to finish top three this season and he backed MattiaDestro for the World Cup.

“The atmosphere was unusual at the start of the season, but we could only get better,” De Rossi told Sky Sport Italia after a 3-1 victory away to Cagliari.

This result has now mathematically secured a place in the Champions League, at least through the preliminary round, and put them within five points of leaders Juventus. The Bianconeri host Livorno on Monday.

“Plus this is a team of men and we knew how to get back on our feet. As the banner from the fans said, not being able to move on from a defeat is worse than the defeat itself.

“If you’d told us at the start of the season that we’d be top three, I would’ve signed in blood! Now that we’re here, there are regrets we dropped points when we could’ve done better, but Juve are extremely strong and have players who can change a game with their eyes closed.”

Destro scored a hat-trick at the StadioSant’Elia, going up to 13 goals and inevitably putting himself in the frame for a World Cup place.

“Destro hadn’t been mentioned much considering his injury, but he is making himself a candidate with all these goals. He’s not the only candidate, as Ciro Immobile is also scoring regularly.”